Reports: Celtics looking to move at least one key player for cap relief

Reports: Celtics looking to move at least one key player for cap relief

It turns out that acquiring Gordon Hayward will cost the Celtics more than the $130 million they’re going to shell out to the 27-year-old All-Star over the next four years.

The unloading began just moments after Hayward made it official, as the Celtics formally renounced the rights to Kelly Olynyk, making him an unrestricted free agent. It’s expected to continue with the waiving of somebody like power forward Jordan Mickey or point guard Demetrius Jackson (the C’s already waived Tyler Zeller earlier this week).

But the biggest hit will have to come via trade, as ESPN is reporting that the Celtics are going to need to unload one of Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, or Marcus Smart via trade.

“The Celtics have to make a complicated series of moves to create enough to sign Hayward to the full max. But because the salary cap did not rise as much as projected, they will likely have to trade one or more of those three players to sign Hayward,” ESPN reported. “Sources told ESPN that Boston has discussed trade concepts involving those players with at least half a dozen teams on Wednesday.”

The report further outlined the Celtics’ litany of cap-crunching needs, which cannot be solved by waiving spare parts and stashing contracts overseas, for the summer.

“But even if the team renounced the rights to Jonas Jerebko, James Young, Gerald Green, waived Mickey, left 2016 first round pick Guerschon Yabusele in Europe this season and traded Jackson’s partially guaranteed contract and Terry Rozier, Boston would have $29,444,533 to sign Hayward, which is still about $300k short of his max.”

That’s where a move involving Bradley, Crowder, and/or Smart comes into the mix.

Both Bradley and Crowder were starters for the Celtics a year ago, and of the two, Bradley is more of a need for the Celtics, as he’s the club’s best defensive stopper, with Smart being the second-best as a perfect off-the-bench option behind Isaiah Thomas.

The Celtics, even though they may have to, would probably prefer to keep one of those players in town. Crowder, meanwhile, plays at an already loaded position (Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum play behind him, and it’s also the position that Hayward prefers).

The 27-year-old Crowder is also under contract for multiple years (2020 to be exact), while both Bradley and Smart are eligible for long-term extensions next summer.

Of the three, a trade involving Bradley would free up the most money, as he’s on the books for $8.8 million, while Crowder makes $6.8 million and Smart’s at $4.5 million.

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